"Time's up, take a break."
When willpower was constantly battling with the body for control, Qin Jiao's voice sounded heavenly.
"Ha... whew..."
Fang Qingyu lay on the ground, breathing heavily.
Everything in front seemed a bit dark.
Even Qin Jiao's voice nearby was not clear.
Hungry... so hungry...
The feeling of hunger even suppressed the soreness in his body.
It was Fang Qingyu's first time encountering such a situation.
"Get up and eat."
Fortunately, Qin Jiao helped Fang Qingyu up, handing over a lunchbox.
Starving Fang Qingyu didn't realize it was similar to the ones at Qingtang Clubhouse until he finished eating.
"Uh... how much is this, Qin Jiao?"
"Just a meal, consider it a reward for persevering."
Qin Jiao waved it off, having watched from start to finish, he knew very well that Fang Qingyu gave it his all in every training session.
Unlike others who slack off towards the end.
The physical exhaustion limits their progress ceiling.
"You need to practice like this every day from now on, can you handle it?"
"Only then do you have a chance to enter the Elite Class."
Seeing Fang Qingyu struggling to stand, Qin Jiao leaned against the punching post and asked without rushing to leave.
"I can."
Fang Qingyu nodded without any hesitation.
"Hmm, your perseverance today shows that even when you think you have great talent, you didn't choose to slack off. It's a good martial arts mindset."
"As long as you are willing to work hard, you still have a chance."
At first, Fang Qingyu didn't think much of it, but soon realized the implication.
"Think?"
"You think your talent is great?"
Qin Jiao, with a weird smile, asked back.
"Do you know how long it took ancient people to learn Pile Skill combined with this Basic Boxing?"
Fang Qingyu shook his head, bewildered.
"One hour."
Qin Jiao held up a finger in response to Fang Qingyu's incredulous look.
"Pile Skill and Basic Boxing were originally the simplest ways to strengthen the body, as easy as learning to do a standard push-up nowadays."
"How many days did it take you to learn a standard push-up?"
Before Fang Qingyu recovered from the shock, Qin Jiao continued.
"However, times have changed. Martial arts practice is tough, and one can live well without it, plus many have never been exposed to it, so taking a few days is normal."
"So your talent is actually pretty good among ordinary people."
Perhaps wanting to avoid disheartening Fang Qingyu, Qin Jiao added a word of comfort.
A Martial Artist should not be arrogant but also not lack confidence.
However, Fang Qingyu wasn't particularly affected.
He was just shocked that such extraordinary people existed.
Whether or not he had talent, it didn't matter.
With the roadmap in hand, as long as Heaven rewards diligence, all gaps can be bridged.
Thinking of talent, Fang Qingyu recalled the person he met on the first day at the Martial Arts Hall.
"Lin Jiao?"
Qin Jiao frowned upon hearing this.
"His situation cannot be compared to ordinary people, you just need to know he is one in a million."
"..."
It seems his red-title profession is still quite far off.
"Let's go, avoid intense exercise today, do a set meal, and continue tomorrow."
The conversation ended with Lin Jiao.
Fang Qingyu changed his clothes and left the Martial Arts Hall.
Already used to the drizzle, he didn't hurry to deliver takeouts but first looked at the roadmap.
[Congratulations on activating the Professional Basic Skill "Basic Boxing"]
[Profession: Martial Arts Apprentice Lv.1 (21/100)]
[Professional Basic Skill 1: Hidden Dragon Posture Lv.1 (33/100)]
[Professional Basic Skill 2: Basic Boxing Lv.1 (1/100)]
Besides gaining a new skill, Hidden Dragon Posture's experience increased significantly.
This aligns with Qin Jiao's explanation.
Pile Skill plus Boxing makes a complete body strengthening method.
So professional experience is also soaring.
However, today's gains from the morning weren't just limited to this.
Fang Qingyu opened the first page.
[Name: Fang Qingyu]
[Age: 18]
[Profession: Martial Arts Apprentice, Security Guard, Fitness Enthusiast, Deliveryman]
[Power: 8.0→8.2]
[Speed: 8.2→8.3]
[Physique: 9.1→9.2]
[Will: 10.7→10.8]
Each of the Four-Dimensional Attributes showed some growth.
Don't underestimate this 0.1 increase.
After coming out, just a light jump or a random punch, Fang Qingyu could distinctly feel the difference from yesterday!
Once the thrill of improvement faded, Fang Qingyu recalled the experience of being desperately hungry.
The total attribute increase this time was 0.5, the same as on the day he unlocked Martial Arts Apprentice.
But that day, he had just eaten a medicinal meal invited by Qi Hao.
He hadn't exhausted much energy.
So after the attribute increase that day, he didn't feel very hungry.
Thinking about this, Fang Qingyu rode the little scooter towards Qingtang Clubhouse.
Massage effects can be replaced by attribute points.
But for food... there's no substitute.
Fang Qingyu handled seventy to eighty orders, finishing just before starting his shift.
[Profession: Deliveryman Lv.1 (21/100)]
[Professional Basic Skill: Electric Car Driving Lv.1 (54/100)]
After activation, professional experience slowed a bit.
However, the Electric Car Driving skill experience soared rapidly, likely to level up in a day or two.
Arriving at Night Charm Bar.
Today, Fang Qingyu's physique drew a few more glances during check-in.
"Qingzi, been working out lately?"
"Yeah, joined a Martial Arts Hall for some casual practice."
No point hiding it, Fang Qingyu openly admitted it, and the other person even touched the muscle on Fang Qingyu's arm upon hearing it.
Firm.
Fang Qingyu took over the radio and exchanged a few pleasantries before starting his shift.
As Qingzi's back faded away, he turned into Brother Qiao's office.
The bar's neon lights licked the swaying reflections of the inebriated patrons.
Fang Qingyu completed tonight's work steadily.
[Profession: Security Guard Lv.1 (55/100)]
[Professional Basic Skill: Guard Skill Lv.2 (11/200)]
With the Guard Skill's improvement, professional experience growth sped up considerably.
This indicated Fang Qingyu did his job even better.
Even though nothing happened.
After the handover with Qingzi, Fang Qingyu rode the electric scooter home from the back door.
Taking the usual shortcut.
Tonight, he must level up a fitness skill.
Otherwise, he won't survive tomorrow's martial arts training.
Returning home, Fang Qingyu didn't switch up his exercises this time.
Instead, he focused intensely on doing deep squats, the one he had the most experience in.
No technical skill was required at all.
It tested only willpower.
Which happened to be Fang Qingyu's highest attribute.
For the past eighteen years, even though the Professional Lineage Map hadn't appeared it gave him headaches.
But it was a blessing in disguise.
Sweat continued to drip onto the floor.
Until the roadmap showed a new notification.
[Congratulations! Professional Basic Skill "Deep Squat" has reached Lv.2(Max), rewarding one attribute point]
Fang Qingyu hardly had time to rejoice before seeing the following text prompt.
"Max level?"
Opening the Fitness Enthusiast's profession panel.
[Professional Basic Skill: Deep Squat Lv.2(Max)]
The experience bar indeed disappeared.
But it's normal too.
Fitness Enthusiast's basic skills are considered the simplest.
Having a low level is understandable.
After all, you can't squat a flower out.
Moreover, Fitness Enthusiast's basic skills...
There are quite many, indeed.